Method of playing a poker game

ABSTRACT

The invention relates generally to a multi level poker game, more particularly a video poker game, wherein the poker game is played as a Texas Holdem poker. The game is played against a machine or dealer where the dealer deals a number of two card hands face up holdings (or hands). The player wagering and choosing a hand then the dealer dealing five community cards face up. Each hand being a poker hand, if the chosen hand is the winning hand the player wins his wager or and expected value of his wager and moves up a level, then has the opportunity to play again possibly advancing to a higher level. When the player wins a consecutive number of hands, advancing to a predetermined level the player plays a bonus round. The bonus round having the dealer deal 54 cards face down, a standard 52 card deck with two jokers, the player picking one card and receiving a winning determined by the card they picked. If the player&#39;s first pick is a joker the next card picked is multiplied giving the player a higher winning value. Once the player wins a predetermined number of consecutive hands the player wins a mini-jackpot and then possibly a larger jackpot.

FIELD

The invention relates generally to a multi level poker game, more particularly a video poker game, wherein the poker game is played as a Texas Holdem poker. The game is normally played by a player who first establishes a bankroll the player then wagering a certain amount to play next the player initiating play by prompting the dealer to deal the cards. Then a dealer, commonly a video game playing device or gaming machine randomizing a standard fifty two card playing deck, dealing predetermined holdings (also know as a “hand”), each holding dealt as two cards face up, typically the dealer dealing six holdings. The dealer calculating the expected value of each holding, displaying the value of each holding in proximity to the holding. The player reviewing the holdings and perhaps speculating on their own as to which two face up holding cards will be the winning hand, the player choosing a holding. Typically the player chooses the hand he wants to play by touching a computer screen or activating a button wherein the machine highlights the choosing. The machine dealing five cards face up, community cards, utilizing the community cards along with each holding determining the highest ranking hand, highlighting that hand; if the player's chosen holding is the winning holding the player is promoted to a higher level. When the player does not choose the winning holding the player is demoted to the lowest level. Each time the player wins consecutive hands the player is moved up the level ladder. As the player moves up the level ladder at predetermined levels the player is allowed to play a bonus round. This bonus round is dealt as fifty four cards dealt face down, a standard fifty two card deck along with two jokers. The cards are randomized and all dealt face down in a matrix array, the player chooses a card, the dealer shows the chosen card, and the player is awarded a predetermined value for that card. In the alternative if the player chooses a joker, the player then chooses another card and the card chosen having a predetermined value is multiplied by a predetermined multiplier, then the player is credited with that winning. As the player moves up levels (winning consecutive hands) at predetermined levels the player will win similar, but larger, or predetermined jackpot. In certain scenarios the player may play for a mini jackpot or for a larger jackpot.

BACKGROUND

In the past, many types of poker, video poker and in general machine gaming systems have been developed and used within the gaming industry. Some of these games include stud poker; draw poker and most recently Texas Hold-Em poker. Many of these machines function in a way as a player playing a hand against a dealer's hand, in some cases multiple players are betting on what is dealt to them will beat the dealers hand. Typically the game is played by a player placing a wager, a dealer dealing cards, each player evaluating the dealt cards and the player with the highest poker ranked hand wins the wager. The player wagering on speculative beating the other dealt hand(s) that the player's hand contains the highest poker ranked hand. Most poker games use five or seven cards and are played as, stud poker, draw poker or Hold-Em poker, most poker games use standard well know basic priority rank to determine the poker winning hand of play. In dissenting (poker rank can be viewed as highest being the winning hand and lower hands being losing hands) order from the best hand to the lower ranked hand the priority of winning hands would be; royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card(s) in hand.

Typically, in conventional poker a plurality of players first wager then each dealt a poker hand by one player who acts as the dealer. The player with the highest hand based on the established priority of poker hands wins usually taking the players wagered amount. In some instances it is known to introduce wagering throughout various steps in the game through the use of tokens, chips, coins which may or may not have a monetary value. One variation of the poker game is commonly know as Texas Holdem where the dealer deals two cards to each player face down, then deals a predetermined number of community cards face up, typically dealing five cards face up. Each player using the dealt cards along with the community cards to make the best poker hand, the best poker hand then winning the round.

Many places have legalized gambling; many places having legalized gaming or gambling are located within the United States. Frequently legalized gaming facilities contain card tables as well as video type machine gambling. Generally, these establishments organize the poker games where the house collects a nominal percentage of each player's wager which compensates the house for providing the facilities for the players to play. Alternatively the house may charge each player a set amount per hand or charge a player for a specified length of time. Each player is not competing against the house but against each other. In the alternative many establishments have poker card games where the player plays against the house or machine.

In any event the traditional way of playing a wagering style of poker whether it is against the house or other players, the player periodically wagers speculating they will be the winning player, if the player wins, having the highest ranking hand, a winning payout is made based on the wager. Then the process starts all over again. If a player wins a hand the player will have the highest ranking hand for that play. However, it is common practice that if the player has a premium hand regardless of the other hands he is playing against the player wins an enhanced winning. A player with a premium hand does not receive any additional compensation other than winning that hand for having the highest poker ranked hand. However the inventor of this game realizes that if a player wins on a premium hand i.e. straight flush or 4 of a kind the player may be rewarded with bonus points. The inventor also has increased the interest in play by allowing the player to win a greater jackpot if the play is able to win a predetermined number of consecutive rounds. The inventor has found new and interesting ways to increase the excitement, reward consecutive winning players, allow for consecutive winning players to play bonus rounds, even reward player for premium hands.

Drawbacks of present game play of such prior art will be manifested by one time play per hand, the lack of reward for premium hand the lack of player reward for a player achieving a consecutive number of wins. Moreover many of the prior art games do not supply an exciting rewarding extended play (consecutive winning play), extended reward for the player. Other drawbacks include the player having to make his best hand from the cards dealt and are not allowed to choose from a number of choices the hand he believes will be the winning hand. This invention allows for the player to choose a hand from a predetermined number of hands that the player believes will be a winning hand. The invention also allows for the player to be aware of the expected values of the dealt hands before the player makes a selection.

The traditional way of playing a multi-hand poker game commonly using a video gaming machine is well know in the arts. Such example of these games is U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,140 to Dabrowski et al. incorporated by reference herein discloses a method of play of a game generally referred to as “Double Poker”. In this method of play a player makes a wager to participate in the game and the player is dealt two distinct hands at the beginning of the game. Each hand is dealt from its own separate complete deck of cards and all five cards are dealt face up. The player selects on of the hands to play the unselected hand is voided or removed from use. The player plays out the selected hand according to the conventional manner of play of traditional video poker games by discarding and receiving replacement cards. All replacement cards are dealt from the particular initial deck of cards from which the first cards were dealt. Then player wins or loses based on the pay out schedule applied to pre-selected winning hand combination and based on the number of coins wagered by the player.

Yet another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,873 to Moody, incorporated by reference describes an electronic video poker gaming machine and method in which the player may play multiple hands at the same time. Then player makes a wager for each separate hand to be played by the player. One hand of cards is deal all face up. The player selects none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held. The cards that are held are duplicated from the first hand into all of the other hands. Replacement card for the non-selected cards are dealt into the first hand and additional card are then dealt to the first hand, if needed, so that the first hand has five cards. Additional cards are also dealt to all of the other hands so that each hand is face card hand. The poker hand ranking of each face card hand is determined row by row. The player is then paid for any winning poker hands based on a pay table and the amount of the player's wager.

In yet another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,915 to Kadlic, incorporated by reference discloses an electric video poker draw poker machine and method in which a four separated five card draw poker hands that are displayed at the same time. The initial deal of each five card hands is two cards face up and three cards face down. The player selects one of the sets of two face up cards to continue play. After the player has selected which set of two face-up cards he wishes to play, the remaining face-down cards in the selected hand are revealed. The game then continues in the conventional manner with the player discarding and drawing replacement cards with respect to the selected five card hand in an attempt to improve that hand. After the draw step is completed, the final five cards are compared to a pay table based on poker hand ranking to determine if the player has achieved a winning combination. Then amount of the pay out to the player for a winning combination is based on the number of coins, tokens or credits wagered by the player and the type of winning hand achieved.

In yet an other prior art reference herein incorporated by reference issued to Sklansky et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,025 disclosed a poker game with one or more players playing against the house. First the player place bets and then three face-up hand consisting of two card each oar dealt, Players each choose one of the three hands and then five communal cards are dealt face up. Each player betting on the winning hand wins his or her bet. Then the game repeats.

Another conventional form of the poker game is know as Holdem or Texas Holdem. In this variant each player at the table is dealt face down a hand consisting of two cards. After a betting round the dealer turns face up three communal cards know as the “Flop”. After another betting round the dealer turns face up one more communal card. Another betting round follows, after which the dealer turns face up the last of the face communal cards. After the final betting round the winning players are determined by comparing the best five-card hand. Each player can make using their own personal two cards hand in conjunction with any of the five communal cards to form their best 5 card combination using poker hand as the criterion for comparison. The pot is then awarded to the winning player or split among two or more winning players possessing hands of equal poker rank. In some variations the game is played high low split with the pot split between the player having the highest ranking poker hand and the player having the lowest ranking poker hand. In all prior art variations of the Holdem the players compete against each other rather than against the house and do not have the opportunity to select their two cards from a plurality of hands dealt face up.

It is the object of this invention to provide a new entertaining form of a poker game that allows the player to play a form of Holdem Poker wherein the player chooses (from a selected group of hands) which hand they player wishes to play. Choosing that hand from a group of selections wherein each selection has its expected value displayed in proximity to the dealt hands. It is a further object of this invention that allows the player to be rewarded after winning a predetermined number of consecutive hands by allowing the player to participate in a bonus round. It is yet an object of this invention to provide jackpots for predetermined consecutive hands won. This inventor's novel approach to creating a poker style game having a player advancing levels, having the player play bonus rounds after winning consecutive hands. Also the player having the ability of winning special jackpots, having the expected value displayed in proximity to each hand and many novel aspect of this game distinguishes this invention from all other prior arts.

SUMMARY

This invention provides an apparatus and method of playing a multi level poker game in which one player plays against a machine wherein if the player wins a hand they are awarded by advancing to a predetermined level.

More particularly, embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus and method of playing a multi level poker game wherein the player winning a consecutive amount of hand is moved along a level ladder and as the player is moved along the player can increase their winning by playing bonus rounds.

It is an object of this invention is to provide a novel approach to playing a poker game where winning consecutive hand moves the player up a level ladder. Allowing the player to play bonus rounds wherein increasing the chances of the player to have higher winnings resulting in the game to be more interesting and rewarding than previously played games. The game is like a Texas holdem game wherein this herein described illustration the dealer deals to the player two cards face up and then deals the a number of community cards typically five. The player uses the seven cards to make the best poker hand and plays against the opponent, in this case the house (or machine) where the house uses its two cards with the five community cards to make the best poker ranked hand. The best poker ranked hand is determined to be the winning hand. However one novel illustration of this game is that the dealer deals a predetermined number of two card hands face up, displaying the expected value worth of each hand, the player then chooses the hand they wish to play. The expected value can be defined by using probability theory, the expected value (or mathematical expectation) of a random variable is the sum of the probability of each possible outcome of the experiment multiplied by its payoff (“value”). Thus, it represents the average amount one expects to win per bet if bets with identical odds are repeated many times. Note that the value itself may not be expected in the general sense; it may be unlikely or even impossible.

For example, an American roulette wheel has 38 equally possible outcomes. A bet placed on a single number pays 35-to-1 (this means that you are paid 35 times your bet and your bet is returned, so you get 36 times your bet). So the expected value of the profit resulting from a $1 bet on a single number is, considering all 38 possible outcomes: (−$1×37/38)+($35×1/38), which is about −$0.0526. Therefore one expects, on average, to lose over five cents for every dollar bet. The player makes a decision and chooses one hand (two cards face up) to play, in a sense it is like playing against other players but the player has a choice which hand the player wishes to play. The dealer deals the five community cards the player uses the seven cards to make their best poker hand, trying to make a better hand than the ones not chosen. If the player wins with the hand chosen then the player is advanced to a predetermined level.

It is further object of this invention to provide a new form of an electronic video poker game that allows the player to choose a hand from a set of pre-dealt hands, choosing and allowing the player to play bonus rounds after the player wins a predetermined number of consecutive winning hands wherein increasing the players winnings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method that is simple by design and efficient in method and use.

The principles preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the forgoing specification. The invention, which is intended to be protected herein, however, is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, since these embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variation and changes which fall within the spirit and scope of the claims be embraced thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of an embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Other objects, features, and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of an embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1, shows a machine display including six two card holdings

FIG. 2, shows a machine display including six two card holdings along with the five dealt community cards, chosen hand as a loosing hand.

FIG. 3, shows a machine display including six two card holdings along with the five dealt community cards, chosen hand as a winning hand.

FIG. 4, shows a machine display showing the bonus round deal, face down.

FIG. 5, shows a machine display showing the bonus round, card locations.

FIG. 6, shows a card play flow chart.

FIG. 7, shows a card play flow chart.

FIG. 8, shows a card play flow chart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method of playing a bonus poker card game 1 on an electronic video gaming machine 11 wherein the player having a predetermined amount of consecutive wins has an opportunity to play a bonus round 2 adding to the winnings. A single player plays against the gaming machine 1 the player first initiating a play of card game poker by a depositing a denomination (the denomination can be money, legal tender or credit) into the machine or by the player crediting an amount wherein establishing a bankroll 3. This initial payment allows the player to participate in the card game crediting the player with an amount of credits 3, basing the amount of credits on the bankroll deposit. Next to continue play the player wagering 14 an amount of the bankroll gambling on the card game for example the player deposing one dollar and wagering five cents, the balanced being 95 cents. The machine randomizes a standard fifty two card playing deck, the player activating the deal option the machine dealing 32 a predetermined number of holdings 7, each holding having been dealt as two cards face up 8. Typically the machine deals a number of predetermined holdings 7 wherein the number of holdings usually 4, 5, 6, or 7. Commonly, the machine is a poker-playing machine having a video display screen 9, perhaps buttons or a touch screen 10 and software to perform the calculation of the actual poker game.

The machine 11 displaying the holdings 7 for example the holding would be two cards grouped together 8, four of diamond and a seven of clubs, grouping the holdings on the screen 9 displaying the holdings (or hands) in groups of two. The machine calculating the expected value 12 for each holding displaying the possible winnings in proximity to the holding, for example if the player wagers one (1) 5 coin the holding being displayed may have an expected value of six (6) 12 coins. The machine using poker rank as criterion for determining the expected value, and winning hand, assigning those values to each holding, displaying the values in proximity to the holding 12, the machine calculating a payback 12, the machine calculating the payback basing the payback on the wager 14. Displayed in proximity to each holding is the payback of each holding such that the player can make an informed choice as to which hand the player wishes to play for that hand.

The player choosing one of the holdings 15 speculating that the chosen holding will be the winning hand. The machine dealing five community cards face up 16. As the game is played the machine determines which hand wins 17, the machine having several holdings utilizing the five community cards along with the players chosen holding determining the best ranking poker hand. For example is the machine deals six holding two cards in each holding then deals the community cards, five cards face up totaling six poker hands 8. Utilizing a predetermined number of cards from the holding and community cards 16 determining the best hand using standard poker rank criterion, for each hand (five community cards 16 and two held cards 8 making the best five card poker ranged hand 8. Discarding a predetermined number of cards, usually two of seven, using poker hand rank as a criterion for determining the best hand most of the time keeping the five best cards for the hand. Designating as a winner the winning holding 17, the machine 11 highlighting the winning hand 17, if the winning hand was the player previously choice then the machine highlights that hand 17 and indicating that the player has won 18, if the machine highlights another (a hand that beat the player's chosen hand) hand 19 indicating that the player has lost 20. If determining that the chosen hand is a winning hand 17 or in the alternative a losing hand 20, then the winning hand chosen awarding the player an amount 3, crediting the player with that amount, advancing the winning player to a higher level 21, if the player loses then demoting the player back to the zero level 22. The player may be advanced a single level or multiple levels depending on the expected value 12 of the hand the player chooses.

The game repeats 34, wagering 14, dealing 8,16, choosing a hand 15 speculating on the winning hand, the machine 11 comparing each of the holdings designating a winning hand 17, designating as a winning holding, winning a predetermined number of consecutive hands advancing the player to a predetermined level 21. As the player wins a certain amount of consecutive hands the player plays a bonus round 2. The player playing the bonus round 2 adding to the player's bankroll 3, if the player loses the hand reduces the players bankroll by the wager amount 14 and demoting the player to no consecutive hands won then allowing player to continue to another play.

During the course of a game after the holdings are dealt and before the community cards 16 are dealt and before the player chooses a hand to play a player has an option of choosing a re-deal 23 if the player does not like the cards displayed, however the player can only choose one re-deal 23 per winning streak, for example if the player wins two consecutive plays and on the third wants a re-deal the player can have a re-deal but if the player wins the next round he cannot choose a re-deal 23 again until he looses and starts back at the lowest level.

After the player wins a predetermined amount of consecutive hands in a row the player has an opportunity to play a bonus round 2. The bonus round will add to the players winnings 3 depending on what card the player chooses in the bonus round. Mostly the bonus round 2 is played after the third consecutive win 24 and again after the sixth, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh consecutive win 25.

The bonus round 2 is played by first the machine 11 randomizing a standard fifty four card playing deck fifty two standard card playing deck including two jokers totaling 54 cards, then the machine assigning a predetermine values to each of the cards 26. In the first bonus round cards with values of 2 though 6 win 4 point 26 a, cards with values 7 through 10 wins 7 points 26 b, jack, queen, and king wins 10 points 26 c, ace of clubs hearts or diamonds wins 25 points 26 d and ace of spades wins 50 points, times the average wager made for that streak. Any successive bonus rounds use a predetermined multiplier of these values. 26 e. All the cards are dealt face down in random locations, displaying the fifty four cards face down 27, the player choosing one card 35, the machine crediting the players bankroll a predetermined value basing the value on the chosen card (as shown typically above), then the machine displaying face up all 28 fifty four card shown in the dealt random location such that the player can see where all the valued cards where dealt. If the player chooses a joker 29 for their first pick the player is allowed a second pick allowing the player to choose another card, the subsequent chosen card having a predetermined value associated with that card, the joker having a predetermined multiplier 33 value associated with it, mostly the first multiplier being 10 and if second joker is picked multiplying 200 times, multiplying the predetermined value associated with the players choice card with the jokers predetermined multiplying value, crediting the player with that value 36, for example if a player chooses the five of hearts they are awarded 4 bonus points, if the player chooses the joker first then the five of hearts they are awarded 40 bonus point and if the player on the first pick a joker then on the second pick picks a second joker then picks the five of hearts the plays is awarded 800 points.

One more feature of this game is that if a player wins a predetermined number of consecutive times the player is awarded a larger automatic winning jackpot, for example if the player wins twelve times consecutively the player will win mini jackpot value 30 and then if the player wins and thirteenth time the player is awarded a big jackpot 31.

Yet another feature of this novel invention is that if the player receives a predetermined premium hand such as four of kind the player is advanced a predetermined number of levels or is advanced to the next bonus round. 

1. A method of playing a consecutive multi level bonus poker card game on an electronic video gaming machine in which a single player plays against the gaming machine comprising the steps of: initiating a play of card game poker by a player depositing a denomination establishing a bankroll allowing the player to participate in the card game, crediting the player with an amount of credits, basing the amount of credits on the bankroll deposit, wagering an amount of the bankroll gambling on the card game, randomizing a standard fifty two card playing deck, dealing a predetermined number of holdings, each holding having been dealt as two cards face up, the machine displaying the holdings, grouping the holdings, the machine calculating the expected value for each holding that the chances of that holding winning, the machine using poker rank as criterion for determining the expected value, assigning those values to each holding, the machine displaying the values in proximity to the holding, the machine calculating a payback, the machine calculating the payback basing the payback on the wager, the machine displaying the payback in proximity to each holding the player choosing one of the holdings speculating that the chosen holding will win, dealing five community cards face up, utilizing the five community cards along with the players chosen holding determining the best ranking poker hand, utilizing a predetermined number of cards from the holding and community cards determining the best hand, discarding a predetermined number of cards, using poker hand rank as a criterion for determining the best hand, comparing each of the holdings in conjunction with at least three community cards using poker hand as a criterion for comparison in determining the winning hand, designating as a winner the winning holding, determining that the chosen hand is a winning hand or in the alternative a losing hand, winning hand chosen awarding the player an amount, crediting the player with that amount, advancing the winning player to a higher level, repeating game, wagering, dealing, choosing a hand speculating on the winning hand, the machine comparing each of the holdings designating a winning hand, designating as a winning holding, winning a predetermined number of consecutive hands advancing the player to a predetermined level, playing a bonus round at the predetermined level, the player playing the bonus round adding to the players bankroll, losing hand reducing the players bankroll by the wager amount, demoting the player to no consecutive hands won allowing player to continue to another play,
 2. A method of playing a consecutive multi level bonus poker card game as in claim 1 wherein the player having the option of choosing a one time re-deal once within one winning streak.
 3. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 1 wherein the machine dealing a number of predetermined holdings wherein the number of holdings is 4, 5, 6, or
 7. 4. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 1 wherein utilizing the five community cards along with the two holding cards to make the best five card poker hand discarding two cards of the seven to form the five card poker hand.
 5. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 1 wherein the denomination establish the bankroll is money.
 6. A method of playing a consecutive multi level bonus poker card game as in claim 1 wherein the player winning the predetermined consecutive hands advancing to a bonus round the bonus round comprising the steps of; the machine randomizing a standard fifty four card playing deck fifty two standard card playing deck including two jokers totaling 54 cards, the machine assigning a predetermined value to each of the cards, randomizing the cards, the machine dealing all the cards in random locations, displaying the fifty four cards face down, the player choosing one card, the machine crediting the players bankroll a predetermined value basing the value on the chosen card, the machine displaying face up all fifty four card shown in the dealt random location.
 7. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker card game as in claim 6 wherein the player choosing a card from the fifty four cards dealt, the player choosing a joker, allowing the player to choose another card, the subsequent chosen card having a predetermined value associated with that card, the joker having a predetermined multiplier value associated with it, multiplying the predetermined value associated with the players choice card with the jokers predetermined multiplying value, crediting the player with that value.
 8. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 7 wherein the player wins a predetermined number of consecutive levels, awarding the player a supplementary jackpot value.
 9. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 6 wherein the machine assigning bonus card values to numbered cards between 2-6 a value of 20, 7-10 a value of 35, j, Q, K 50, Ace of clubs, harts and diamonds 125, ace of spades 250
 10. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 6 wherein advancing the winning player a single level.
 11. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 6 wherein advancing the winning player multiple levels.
 12. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 6 wherein winning with a predetermined premium hand then advancing the player to a predetermined bonus level.
 13. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 6 wherein winning a predetermined number of consecutive hands advancing the player to a predetermined level wherein the player wins a progressive jackpot in excess of the wagered amount.
 14. The method of playing a multi level bonus poker game as in claim 12 wherein winning with a predetermined premium hand then advancing the player to a predetermined bonus level. 